Large Protests Against Israeli Participation In Eurovision Expected

By Leila Nezirevic

LONDON (AA) — Over 20,000 people from various European countries are expected to travel to the city of Malmo in Sweden, to protest Israel's participation in the Eurovision song contest, set to be held in the Scandinavian country on May 7, local media reported on Monday.

The Palestine Network launched an initiative to organize demonstrations and other cultural activities in the city during Eurovision week, according to national broadcaster SVT Nyheter.

One of the many organizations collaborating to hold two demonstrations in the city is the Palestine Group in Malmo.

"We are planning two large, peaceful demonstrations on May 9 and 11 in Malmo. We hope that many people will come from Denmark to participate," Per-Olof Karlsson, one of the organizers, told the broadcaster.

Asked why he felt it was important to stage such a protest he said Israel "should be excluded from Eurovision just like they did with Russia," referring to Moscow's suspension from the competition since 2022 over the war in Ukraine.

In solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and in protest of Israel's participation in Eurovision, an alternative music event called Falastinvision, is planned for May 11 in Malmo.

Many artists from Sweden and other parts of Europe will be participating to show their support for Palestinians.

One of them is the artist JC Bigfoot from Scotland.

"I will participate in the protest in Malmo by participating both in the demonstrations and performing with my songs and showing support and solidarity for the Palestinians," JC Bigfoot was "ed as saying by SVT.

In 2022, Russia was barred from the Eurovision Song Contest held in Turin, Italy, after neighboring Finland threatened to pull out their performer unless Russia was banned due to Moscow's decision to launch its "special military operation" in Ukraine that year.

The European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organizes the show, has since prevented the country from participating.

Iceland was fined by the EBU after its Eurovision act Hatari raised Palestinian flags during their appearance on the show held in Israel in 2019.

In December, the board of the Icelandic Society of Authors and Composers (FTT) publicly called for Iceland's public broadcaster RUV not to take part in the contest "unless Israel is denied participation in the competition on the same grounds as Russia in the last competition."

"We all have a duty to take a stand against war and the killing of civilians and innocent children," the FTT's General Director Stefan Eiriksson said in a letter to the RUV.

He further emphasized that individuals and state institutions "always have the choice not to put our name to such things."

"We owe it to those nations that act with force through military might not to share the stage in an event that is always characterized by joy and optimism," Eiriksson added.

The 2024 Eurovision Contest will take place in Malmo, Sweden, on May 11, following the Nordic country's victory in 2023 with the song "Tatoo" by Loreen.

Israel has waged a deadly military offensive on the Gaza Strip since an Oct. 7 cross-border attack led by Hamas in which some 1,200 Israelis were killed.

Nearly 33,800 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have since been killed in Gaza, and nearly 76,500 injured amid mass destruction and shortages of necessities.

The Israeli war has pushed 85% of Gaza's population into internal displacement amid a crippling blockade of most food, clean water, and medicine, while 60% of the enclave's infrastructure has been damaged or destroyed, according to the UN.

Israel is accused of genocide at the International Court of Justice, which in January issued an interim ruling ordering Tel Aviv to ensure its forces do not commit acts of genocide, and guarantee that humanitarian assistance is provided to civilians in Gaza. -